Just arrived back home after an exciting time at Toastmasters. If you’ve never heard of Toastmasters, here’s in a nutshell.
From the official website:
Toastmasters began as a series of speaking clubs organized by Ralph C. Smedley during his time working for the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) in Bloomington, Illinois, United States. As director of education at the YMCA, Smedley saw a need for the men in the community to learn how to speak, conduct meetings, plan programs and work on committees, and he wanted to help them.
Smedley decided to organize a club where they could learn these skills in a social environment, and the men responded well to the concept. He named the group the Toastmasters Club; “toastmaster” was a popular term that referred to a person who gave toasts at banquets and other occasions.
The first unofficial Toastmasters meeting was held on March 24, 1905.
(…)
Click here to read on and learn more.
Me, I first heard of these events in one of Dale Carnegie’s books. Probably, How to Win Friends and Influence People. (Awesome book, by the way. If you haven’t you’ll definitely want to pick it up!) However, for a long while, I couldn’t find a good one to join in Berlin. Today attended as a visitor/guest only, because I wanted to get a feel for it.
Since many people (including yours truly) are terrified of public speaking, it’s important to practice it—in a safe and encouraging environment.
Honest feedback is necessary. But there is a way to do it and another way not to do it. One way encourages personal growth and professional development; while the other way has the potential to destroy all momentum you’ve built until this point in time (and can cause self-esteem issues for sensitive people).
Anyway, today has been great.
It absolutely scared the shit out of me; I even “had to” give an unprepared speech for about 1-2 min, plus a prior introduction in front of the whole group.
What can I say? Still alive. And little by little getting there.
Was worth it and will continue, for sure.
On a side-note, I also received my school certificate and have to say, I’m satisfied. You know this feeling when you meet your own standards?
Yep, exactly this amazing feeling.
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–Mario
